Unsolicited application: who to write to, and what to say
Not every job goes through an ad. A growing company, someone leaving, a need not yet written down: a well-targeted unsolicited application sometimes arrives before the ad.
Why it works
Publishing an ad costs time and money. Many small companies hire first through word of mouth and the applications they already have. The one that lands at the right time, on the right desk, saves the company the whole process.
It does not replace replying to ads. It adds to it, and reaches companies your competitors do not contact.
Choosing the companies
Ten chosen companies are worth more than a hundred copied addresses. Start from three criteria:
- Your trade: companies that employ people like you, even if they are not hiring right now.
- Distance: the commute you will accept every day.
- Size: a small company without an HR department often reads its own emails, and decides quickly.
The commercial register, business directories and trade associations provide full lists. Jobunt's Companies page sorts them by trade and by distance from where you live.
Finding the right person
An application sent to a generic address often waits a long time. Aim for a person:
- in a small company, the management or the head of the relevant department;
- in a large company, the head of the department, then HR;
- the “Team” or “Contact” page of the website, and LinkedIn, to find the name and role.
Without a name, the generic address is still an option. Mention the department you are aiming for in the subject line.
What the message must say
An unsolicited application answers no ad. So it has to say itself what you are offering.
- Who you are, in one sentence: your trade and level of experience.
- Why this company: what you know about it, and how it links to your career.
- What you could do there: a specific kind of job, not “any position matching my profile”.
- A concrete request that is easy to accept: a fifteen-minute conversation, by phone or in person.
An example email
Subject: Unsolicited application – maintenance technician, Nyon area
Dear Mr Bovet,
I am an industrial maintenance technician with six years' experience on packaging lines. Your Gland site has just added a second line, and I imagine its preventive maintenance needs reinforcement.
At my current employer, I cut unplanned stoppages by a third in two years, by introducing a lubrication plan and tracking wear parts. I am looking for a full-time job closer to home.
Would you have fifteen minutes in the next two weeks to talk about it? My CV and work references are attached.
Best regards,
Sarah Monnier, 079 000 00 00
Follow up, once
If there is no reply after seven to ten working days, a short, polite follow-up is enough. It reminds them of your message without repeating it. If that goes unanswered, move on to the next company: you can write again in a few months if your situation changes.
How many to send
Better five prepared applications a week than fifty identical ones in an evening. Note the date, the contact and the planned follow-up for each. After a month, you will know which sectors reply.